Sickness benefit: what is needed to be entitled to the benefit

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The temporary incapacity benefit, previously known as sickness benefit, is intended for workers who contribute to Social Security and who, due to health problems, are temporarily unable to carry out their work activities.

Who Has the Right?
To access the benefit, the worker must meet some requirements established by the National Social Security Institute (INSS):

• Medical proof: It is necessary to carry out a medical examination to certify the inability to work for more than 15 consecutive days.
• Shortage: The worker must have made at least 12 monthly contributions to Social Security. However, this requirement does not apply to specific cases, such as workplace accidents or illnesses related to the work environment.

Diseases that exempt the waiting period
The waiting period is waived for workers diagnosed with the following conditions:

• Active tuberculosis;
• Leprosy;
• Severe mental disorders with mental alienation;
• Malignant neoplasms;
• Blindness;
• Irreversible and disabling paralysis;
• Severe heart disease;
• Parkinson’s disease;
• Ankylosing spondylitis;
• AIDS;
• Radiation contamination (with specialized medical report);
• Severe liver disease;
• Multiple sclerosis;
• Stroke (acute);
• Surgical acute abdomen.

The assessment of the exemption is carried out by Federal Medical Expertise and, in some cases, can be carried out through documentary analysis, eliminating the physical presence of the worker.

Request Modalities

• Document Analysis: Sending medical documents for evaluation.
• Home Application: A representative can present the documents on the applicant’s behalf.

How to Request the Benefit
The order can be made via the Meu INSS website or application.

Here’s how:

1. Access Meu INSS and log in with your gov.br account.
2. Click on “New Request” or use the search field with the word “disability”.
3. Choose the option “Request Disability Benefit”.
4. Track the progress of your order in the “Check Orders” section.

Required Documents
When making the request, you must present:

• Medical examinations, reports and original prescriptions;
• Identification document with photo and CPF (RG, CNH, CTPS, etc.).

If you represent the applicant, present a power of attorney or legal representation agreement, in addition to the representative’s personal documents.

Extension and Appeals

• Extension Request: If the period granted for recovery is insufficient, the insured may request an extension in the last 15 days of the benefit’s validity. The extension can be made through Meu INSS or Central 135.
• Resources in case of denial: If the request is denied or the benefit is terminated, it is possible to appeal to the Appeals Board within 30 days of becoming aware of the decision.

Service and Support
For questions, the INSS provides the 135 Customer Service Center, which operates from Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 10pm (Brasília time).

Important: This benefit is a guarantee to ensure the recovery of temporarily disabled workers, allowing them to resume their activities in health and safety.